The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-03-11
RETRIBUTION.
BY "TiE DUCHESS
CHAPTER XXI,

pute him for her to the death; but there
Is no occasion for him to be on the defen-
sive. When that cry, when the word
"Maurice" has rushed from her lips
Grant, as though he had received u NOR
tai wound, had loosed his hold of her,
and now stands apart from them staring
vacantly at the half unconscious girl.
Ills he had never suspected. That her
heart was not his, he knew; that it was
in the keeping of another bursts upon
him now for the first time, without mo
ment's warning, and crushes out of him
his last hope.
There is something terrible in the glance
he has bent upon her He has apparent
ly given no thought to Duran, though in
him he finds his rival; all his thoughts
are centered on Nadine. AS If she feels
the terrible concentration of his regard,
she shivers in Duran's arms, and slowly
lifts her head. Her eyes met Boyle's.
"Sor' he says, and no more.
There is such a cruel meaning in the
one word he has uttered that Nadine,
freeing herself from Durans restraining
grasp, goes forward as If to refute in per-
son whatsoever he may dare to insist upon.
Yet, as she draws near to him, the eX-
treme agony of his expression touches,
and forbids her to say anything that may
hurt or wound.
"Stand back" says Boyle in low tone.
"Do not come near me- If you touch me
l will not answer for myself. Probably /
shall kill you"
"Paulr'
She has forgotten everything save the
despair that she has brought to him, and
that stands marked upon his pallid face.
81 warn you to keep away" repeats he
in the same dull, methodical tone as be-
fora tbIf cnnya fnrayay cnt,1I
not tell me more than know now. 1t is
too late to cajole or deceive ME further
You must be satisfied with the old vic
tory"
"If you would but listen'-
ITO believe again-to be again undone'
Be warnedr' cries he with a sudden ac-
cess of violent passion.
"If you approach me one step nearer, IL
your treacherous voice sounds once more
upon my ear will dash your false brains
against that wall oppositel' He draws
his breath fiercely, and his hands work
together in a convulsive frenzy. "Trait-
ressN' he Whispers O cold fury in his
tone; chow has it been between us? /
gave you all-my love, my life, my hopes.
You gave me serpent's smile and glances
false as hell! With desire in your heart
for another, you held out hand to me,
and swore you knew not the meaning of
the strange word Lowell Stand back, tell
you, if life is still of value to you'll Nay,
not word! Treacherous devil that you
are, would still spare your
"If you would only let me tell you
howl
She has placed her hand appealingly
upon his. With sudden cry, wild as
though coming from q beast hurt unto
death, he seizes her, and finging her far
H. l. Il -
the furthest wall.
She drops like stone to the ground
Duran, holding her to his heart, looks
| round. Boyle is no longer to be seen.
Without waiting to learn the consequences
| Of his fury, he had rushed from the room.
"Well, at last my duty is at an end;
| my final guest has departed. l can now
rest my weary limbs" says Miss Grey
| some hours later, sinking into chair as
| she speaks.
"You look awfully done, returns Mas
sareene with deep solicitude.
"Iam tired. Iconfess it, With all this
anxiety upon my mind, to be obliged to
| go about among the guests and apologize
to them for poor Lady Valworth' s absence,
was more trying than knew. Auntle
was of no help at ALL She was thorough
| ly upset herself, and for the first hour un-
| presentable. Then she rallied a little,
but to hardly any purpose Oh, Gerald
what terrible evening this has been"
"It has had its good side, however.
| You are free"
"Free-yes, "
"To let me love you"
81 have had no time to think Of that. {"
| She regards him earnestly for moment.
| ktNpr1 will to hal al
| fish," she says slowly.
SIS it selfish to consider above every
thing the welfare of the one best belovedS
If so, plead guilty, / tell you | have
thought of nothing since-since Boyle's
eXpose-but the fact that you have been
delivered out of the hands of such man. I"
| zone must think of Nadine"
"How is she now?' ''Well, but still
terrified. His violence did her no bodily
harm, but she is oppressed by nervous
horror, and will not consent to remain
alone for even a moment
She is now in the morning room with
Mr.. Duran and auntie."
"You were surprised about Duran"'
| Weren't your When she called out to
him that time, and when he caught her
in his arms, l could hardly believe my
senses. Well, it is a good exchange for
her. Maurice Duran is handsome, and
rich, and her hearts chosen. She is q
| lucky girlr'
"Are you unluckyS" He asks the ques-
ton wistfully, looking down at her with
his plain, kindly face rather disturbed.
81 am ugly and poor, and not altogether
sure that am the chosen of her who is
all the world to me, "
"Ohl you are your" returns she senten-
tiously. "And as for Maurice Duran,
would not marry him, even if he had the
| grace to ask me-
| "Aud you will marry meY" eagerly.
| Cline will prove that"
She laughs at him little saucily from
under her long lashes, and holds out to
him hand with such dainty sweetness as
brings him to her feet at once.
| "My darling girlI'
"a darling girl, no doubt; but not
yours yet, however"
"And why not, since you are freeY"
~ was quite free all along, 1t seemsr'
exclaims she with quick flash of
wounded pride that brings the hot blood
to her cheeks. She springs from her seat
and PAGES rapidly up and down the room,
Presently she stops short before him. and
lifts her dark, angry eyes to his, 81
wonder you have not too much pride Ia
care for the woman who was despised by
that thiefr' she says, with angry excite
ment.
~ care or Millicent Grey, 1t is absurd
to dwell upon such thing, +" returns he
strongly,
| "Shall ever forget it, wonder-to be
rejected by such as himl To learn from
his own lips that | was merely used as q
blind; that while paying attention to me
his whole heart and soul was devoted &c
anotherln
"But what a soul and heartl you should
consider that
| "The meaner they are, the more / re
sent his conduct, And TO say it before
them alll-my aunt, Lady Valworth, Sh
Thomas, you'll When he thus scorned me
publicly, with that evil smile upon his
lips, had only one wish left"
| "And thatSn
"That / were man, to thrust the words
back in his throat and kill him"
"And yet you held me from him at tn,
moment, He is still in the house, how
ever, | will compel him to apologize
to- begins the hot Irishman, making
for the door,
mo, 1t would be useless" interposes
she, quickly at Is done 1t cannot be
undone, and surely hismother has suffered
enough. There must be no further dis
1 turbance."
81 can follow him, however"
~ tell you, you could never undo what
is done. Let him go; he is not worth
notice. l should be ashamed to confes.